T3 - UK (2022-06)

(Maropa) #1
72 T 3 JUNE 2022

Tested
Final Audio UX 3000

£119

snext-final.com

inal Audio has turned out everything
from wildly expensiveheadphonesto
humble entry-level stuff that costs
the same as a round of drinks. e
UX3000 were worththe wait, though– the
companyhas certainly takenits time to challenge
the best noise-cancelling headphones,but it’s
done so while playing its own game.
Not much is new in the world of over-ear
headphones, certainlynot where design is
concerned. So it’s nice to find even a tinypoint of
difference here – Final Audio has deployed what
it calls a‘shibo’finishoverthe fairly hard plastics
that comprise most of the frame of the UX3000.
An old Japanese word describing the wrinkles on
the surface of paper or leather, ‘shibo’here
basically means an interestingly mottled finish
that (in some lights)makes your headphones
look likethey need a bit of a wipe.
Wherethey’renot made of plastic, the
UX3000 are builtfrom nicely pliant, memory
foam-filled pleather at the contact points. Both
the earpads and the headband are comfortable,
and stay that way for hours at a time.
Anynumber of price-comparable rivals to
the UX3000 hit you with overconfident low
frequencies and a sortof sonic relentlessness
that’s easily (but only briefly) confused with
‘excitement’.Safeto say the UX3000 don’t
indulge in such cheap nonsense. ey’reabout
fidelity and realism.
Given content of a half-decent standard to
deal with,the Final Audio are an accomplished

F

Affordable wireless headphones

for grown-ups that deliver hugely

detailed and accurate music in an

aggressively priced package

Final Audio


UX 3000

THE FINALWORD

WE’RE IMPRESSED Deftly
accomplished sound;good
specification; compact and
comfortable.
WE’D IMPROVE Active noise
cancelling canbe bettered; don’t
look or feel anything special.
THE LAST WORD These aren’t
made for the ‘big bass at all costs’
brigade, but the rest of us can
revel in serious, properly realised
performance at a very agreeable
price indeed.

VERDICT

Find great deals on the UX30 00
at: bit.ly/t3fnaux3k

listen. ey deliver a tightlyintegratedand
properly consistent tonality from the top ofthe
frequency rangeto the bottom, with punchy
and controlled bassunderpinning things.
roughout the frequency range, detail levels
are high and control – of the attack and decay
of individual sounds,as well as of overall
integration – is absolute.
ey don’t create the biggest soundstage
around, it’strue, but nevertheless the UX30 00
can lay out a recording coherently and drawa
convincing audio image.Specific instruments or
performers haveautonomy intheirownlittle
area of the soundstage,and there’s no blurring
or muddling of positionson it.
As far asnoisecancellation goes, it’smostly
successful. e UX3000 aren’t able to remove
everyhint of external sound, it’s true– you’ll
need to at least double your budget – but they’re
not bad at all. Andthey don’t shift their sonic
character while they’recancellingnoise.
Anyone with realistic expectations of what
kind of wireless over-ear activenoise-cancelling
headphonesthis sortof money canbuy will be
verypleasantly surprisedby the Final Audio
UX3000.ey’rea mature,quitesophisticated
and nicely balanced listen, they’reproperly made
and comfortable, and they’renot at all badat
cancelling noise either.
Yes, you canspend similar money on more
upfront sound, or on a more high-profile brand
logo – but it won’tbuy you any more musicality
than is available right here.
Free download pdf